1

Primary funding is provided by

The SPE Foundation through member donations

and a contribution from Offshore Europe

The Society is grateful to those companies that allow their

professionals to serve as lecturers

Additional support provided by AIME

Society of Petroleum Engineers

Distinguished Lecturer Program www.spe.org/dl 1

2

Perforating with Lasers: Are You

Ready for the Power of Light?

Brian C. Gahan, PE Laser Rock Technologies, LLC

Society of Petroleum Engineers

Distinguished Lecturer Program www.spe.org/dl

3

Presentation Outline

• Laser Applications Background

• Downhole Laser Selection

• Perforation Tests

• High Power Fiber Laser (HPFL)

Field Applications Examples

• Summary

4

Lasers…In the beginning

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of

Radiation

Albert Einstein theorized the

concepts of the “photoelectric

effect” in a paper published in

1905 – for which he later won

the Nobel Prize in Physics in

1922.

5

Cultural References – SciFi

6

Lasers Today

7

Research Lasers Applied

CO2 – Carbon Dioxide

Nd:YAG - neodymium-doped yttrium

aluminum garnet

LP:YAG – Lamp-Pumped Nd:YAG

DP:YAG – Diode-Pumped Nd:YAG

HPFL – High Power Fiber Laser

COIL – Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser

8

Laser Spectrum

A B C D

A) Diode B) YAG, Fiber C) MIRACL D) CO2

9

Specific Energy Defined

33 cm

kJ

/seccm

kW

dV/dt

P

RemovedVolume

InputEnergySE

Reference: SPE 77627

Lower SE Value = Higher Efficiency

10

High Power Military Lasers

Q: Can Lasers Penetrate All Rock?

A: Yes, But Inefficient and Expensive

Type Power (kW) Λ (μm) Location

COIL 6.8 1.34 USAF

CO2 50,150 10.6 USAF

MIRACL 1600 3.4 US Army

Reference: SPE 56625

97 00 98 99 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

11

High Power Industrial Lasers

Q: How Much Energy Does it Take?

A: Much Less Than Literature Predicted

Type Power (kW) Λ (μm) Location

Nd:YAG 1.6 1.06 ANL

CO2 6 10.6 ANL

Diode 4 0.8 NA Tech

Reference: SPE 71466, 84353

97 00 98 99 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

12

High Power Fiber Lasers

Q: Can HPFL Achieve Downhole Goals?

A: Results to Date Suggest Yes….

Type Power (kW) Λ (μm) Location

HPFL ≥ 5.34 1.07 GTI, LRT

Reference: SPE 90661, 97093

97 00 98 99 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

13

• Several Methods Observed

• Function of Thermal Properties

– Carbonates – Dissociation

CaCO3 →CaO + CO2

– Sandstones – Spallation

– Shales – Spallation

– Steel - Melt

Material Removal Mechanisms

Several Methods Observed

Function of Thermal Properties

Carbonates – Dissociation

CaCO3 →CaO + CO2

Sandstones – Spallation

Shales – Spallation

Steel - Melt

14

Possible Downhole Applications

Drilling

Perforating

Seismic Shot Holes

Casing Cutting/ Abandonment

Offshore Platform Abandonment

Casing “Windows” for Multi-Laterals

Downhole Slotted Liners/Screens

15

Benefits of Laser Perforation

Non-Explosive Technology

Real-Time Control: Input vs. Output

Open Geometry Solutions

Potential for “Extended Perforation” and

Other Completion Methods

Improves Flow Conditions

No Mass Transfer Into Tunnel

Permeability/Porosity Improvements

16

Presentation Outline

• Laser Applications Background

• Downhole Laser Selection

• Perforation Tests

• High Power Fiber Laser (HPFL)

Field Applications Examples

• Summary

17

Downhole Laser Selection

Technical

Provide Required Output Power

Deliver Beam to Downhole Target

Operate at Downhole Conditions

Cut / Drill Multiple Materials

Mobile, Rugged On-site Deployment

18

Downhole Laser Selection

Economic

Existing, Commercially Available

Minimal Maintenance and Repair

High Energy Conversion Efficiencies

Minimal Energy Losses

Attenuation

Absorbtion

19

All Lasers Are Not Equal Laser Parameters - 4kW Beam

CO2 LP:YAG DP:YAG HPFL

E/O Efficiency, % 5-10 2-3 4-6 25-35

Electric Power, kW

(no chiller) 40-80 130-200 67-100 11-16

Footprint, m2

(no chiller) 6 5 3 0.5

Water, m3/hr 6-8 20-25 ~ 15 <2

Maintenance, Khrs 1-2 0.5 2-3 10-15

Pump Replace,

Khrs n/a 0.5-1 2.5 >100

20

All Lasers Are Not Equal Power Required for 4kW Beam

0

50

100

150

200

250

2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23

E/O Efficiency (%)

Po

wer

Req

uir

ed

, K

w Power Required to Generate

4 kW Output Beam LP:YAG

HPFL

DP:YAG

CO2

21

All Lasers Are Not Equal Comparison of Lowest SE

Laser Comparasion

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

COIL CO2 Nd:YAG Fiber

Laser Type

Sp

ecif

ic e

nerg

y (

kJ/c

c)

BG Ls

BG = Berea Gray Sandstone

LS = Limestone

22

High Power Fiber Laser (HPFL)

Power: Up to 50 kW + /unit

Wavelength: Yb: 1070 nm

E/O Efficiency: 25-30+%

Dimensions (10 kW):

60 x 80 x 160 cm

(2.0 x 2.5 x 5.25 ft)

Footprint: 0.5 m2 (5.38 ft2)

Weight: 400 kg (882 lb)

23

Presentation Outline

• Laser Applications Background

• Downhole Laser Selection

• Perforation Tests

• High Power Fiber Laser (HPFL)

Field Applications Examples

• Summary

24

HPFL Perforation: Limestone

HPFL Perforation in Reservoir Limestone

Length: 6 inches Power: 5.34 kW

Beam Application: Continuous

Lased

Tunnel 6”

Natural

Fractures

25

HPFL Perforation: Limestone

HPFL Perforation in Quarry Limestone

Length: 12.2 inches Power: 5.34 kW

Beam Application: Continuous

Lased Tunnel

12.2”

26

HPFL Perforation: Sandstone

HPFL Perforation in Berea Sandstone

Length: 3.0 inches Power: 3 kW

Beam Application: Continuous

Lased Tunnel

3.0”

1.0”

27

HPFL Perforation Through Steel, Cement, and SS

Power: 4.4 kW Beam Application: Continuous

HPFL Perforation: Composite

Berea Berea

28

Small Block Perf Test

Creating 1 x 3 Inch Tunnel in Small Berea Block

29

Large Block Perf Test

1-inch Grid for Data

Acquisition Before and

After Lasing

12.0 in

12.0 in

12.0 in

30

Large Block Perf Test

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Profile along LIO1

Te

mp

era

ture

(oC

)

Temperature Profile During Lasing

31

Tunnel Cutaway Tunnel Cutaway with 2-D Permeability Map

Large Block Perf Test Post-Lase Analysis

Micrograph of Tunnel Wall

32

Large Block Perf Test Post-Lase Analysis

Thin Section Comparison of Tunnel Surface

Note: Void Space is Blue

33

High Pressure Cell for Laser Applications Simulates Downhole Pressure Conditions

Initial Tests Successful (Triaxial)

Testing Under Various Configurations

High Pressure Perf Tests

34

First In-Situ Laser Perf Study Cuttings Expelled (Underbalanced)

Pressure/Stress Improves Cutting Efficiency

High Pressure Perf Tests

35

HP Perf Tests– Clad Test CT Simulated Wellbore

Berea Sandstone

Bedford Limestone

0.5” Steel Disc

Cement

Rock Core

36

HP Perf Tests– Clad Test CT

Long view of X-ray CT scan image of laser perforated

limestone core sample

0.5 inch steel disc

1.5 inch cement plug (super yield 250)

4.5 inch depth

37

HP Perf Tests - Sandstone

sandstone sample in the high pressure perforation cell at ambient conditions,

confining pressure, axial and pore pressure.

High Pressure Laser Perforation Trials

Berea Sandstone5.34 kW, 8.0 Seconds, 0.35 Inch Beam Diameter

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 Brine Oil

Trial Number with Pressure Conditions, psi

Sp

ecif

ic E

nerg

y,

kJ/c

c

Pc = 0

Pa = 0

Pp = 0

Pc = 1120

Pa = 1180

Pp = 0

Pc = 1101

Pa = 1106

Pp = 864

Pc = 2031

Pa = 2000

Pp = 0

Pc = 2100

Pa = 2215

Pp = 1565

Pc = 1893

Pa = 1991

Pp = 0

Pc = 1844

Pa = 1956

Pp = 0

Pc = Confining Pressure

Pa = Axial Pressure

Pp = Pore Pressure

38

HP Perf Tests - Limestone

High Pressure Laser Perforation Trials

Indiana Limestone5.34 kW, 8.0 Seconds, 0.35 Inch Beam Diameter

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 Brine Oil

Trial Number with Pressure Conditions, psi

Sp

ecif

ic E

nerg

y,

kJ/c

c

Pc = 0

Pa = 0

Pp = 0

Pc = 1029

Pa = 1139

Pp = 0

Pc = 982

Pa = 1056

Pp = 864

Pc = 2069

Pa = 2169

Pp = 0

Pc = 2100

Pa = 2225

Pp = 1615

Pc = 1922

Pa = 1981

Pp = 0

Pc = 1800

Pa = 1930

Pp = 0

Pc = Confining Pressure

Pa = Axial Pressure

Pp = Pore Pressure

39

Presentation Outline

• Laser Applications Background

• Downhole Laser Selection

• Perforation Tests

• High Power Fiber Laser (HPFL)

Field Applications Examples

• Summary

40

HPFL Field Applications Well Completions Concept

Fiber Optics Downhole via CT

41

HPFL Field Application Examples US Army ZEUS Humvee

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HPFL Field Application Examples US Navy LaWS

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HPFL Field Application Examples Earthquake Retrofit of CA Hospital

Source: EWI

Controller, Chiller and

Power Conditioning HPFL

Laser Pilot Bit: 265 mm holes for up to 19.0 mm diameter rebar

Processing

Head

44

Presentation Outline

• Laser Applications Background

• Downhole Laser Selection

• Perforation Tests

• High Power Fiber Laser (HPFL)

Field Applications Examples

• Summary

45

Summary

Lasers Can Break/Cut All Rock

Previous Literature Outdated

Potential Non-Explosive Perf Option

HPFL: Breakthrough Technology

Most Efficient, Reliable Laser Type

Meets Field Deployment Needs

Commercially Available

Over Time: Power ↑, $/kW ↓

46

Summary Successful Lab Demos

Longest Tunnel to Date in SS, LS

Minimal Removal Energy Observed

Optimal Fluid Flow Conditions Result

First In-Situ Laser Perf Study

Cuttings Expelled (Underbalanced)

Pressure/Stress Improves Cutting Efficiency

47

Multi-Dimensional Applications

Tool Location Wellbore

Kick off into Reservoir

Perf, Slot, Surface Ablation

Proven Remote Deployment

US Army Humvee

Construction - CA Hospital

Summary

48

Thank You For Your Attention

50

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